You'd think we as a nation could desperately use some comic relief, like at all times but clearly we can only dish it out.

When Natalia Gul Jilani, a dentist by day and stand-up comedian by night, poked fun at Sindhis (being one herself) it ignited some serious outrage — online and offline. This is why we can't have nice things, people.

Natalia (second from left) is also part of The Khawatoons, South Asia's first all-girls troupe

What followed after were death threats and hate speech, which she says was a first for her in the two years she's been doing stand-up: "As a Sindhi, I've drawn on my experiences for skits often and I've never faced such backlash with any real audience. Even in the video, you can see people in the crowd were enjoying it," shared Natalia.

Her comedy skit titled 'Sindhi Encyclopedia' seemed to have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way; I take it some of them did not enjoy being stereotyped and called "hairy and horny". Even Sanam Marvi, a Sindhi folk singer called her out on it:

It got to the point that she had to deactivate her Facebook, make her instagram private, at least until things calmed down. It begs the question: where do you draw the line between humour that is acceptable and offensive comedy? What topics are, or should be off the table?

"I could've never imagined this sort of a reaction. I drew on my own life experiences, being a metric student, the fact that we love daal chawal, my landlord brother does own a chai dhabba, I mean some clichés are clichés for a reason" she added.

The thin line between ethnic stereotyping and self-deprecation

When I say people were mad, I mean MAD. The swearing aside, many Sindhis who disapproved of Natalia's content thought she was "misleading" people, accused her of "discrimination" and for "typecasting".

So when the video starting going viral for all the wrong reasons, The Circus, an online entertainment channel that purchased the content from Natalia and had posted the video issued an apology after taking it down:

"The clip was doing well and getting a lot of views when it initially went up from their Circus page. When I woke up the next day though, my phone was flooded with notifications. Someone had downloaded the video and posted it on some random page with a very crass caption, I think it actually said "Sunny Leone type" and that kind of incited a whole bandwagon of negative people."

Natalia has also since apologised for her material, mentioning that she's been subjected to serious abuse and character assassination since and her intentions weren't to hurt anybody's sentiments.

Part of why Natalia gets a bit of a hall pass is because she's not making fun of another ethnicity, she's just relaying her own observations, which is what comedians do globally; it's what makes you authentic. Ali Wong talks about being Asian, Chris Rock talks about being black. Brown people too make fun of brown people on international platforms all the time; people will watch Hassan Minaj and Russel Peters without batting an eye but we realised this was not the same audience that was Netflixing stand-up.

As with a lot of things in life, we should take power dynamics into play; the more affluential and privileged you are, the more you're up for mockery and scrutiny. Natalia was simply making fun of herself, relaying her own encounters and was inviting the audience to laugh at her, with her and it's sad that she had to apologise for her jokes just because of some bullies.

It's hard to be bold when cultural expectations suggest you shouldn't be so more power to Natalia for blazing the trail for other humorists in more ways than one and we for one can’t wait for her second video to come out in partnership with The Circus (there’s two more on the way and neither of those even mention Sindhis so relax guys).

The cost of being a female comedian

The fact of the matter is that the so-called "line" in humour is subjective and what's offensive can also be funny. When the line does exist, it's often drawn by men, who cross it anyway whenever they please; who remembers Yasir Hussain dressing up as a Pathan and joking about child abuse or even Ahsan Khan?

Natalia going off the grid online is yet another example of a woman being forced to go into digital hibernation due to harassment. Speaking of societal suppression, I figured that Natalia was a double-edged sword: it wasn't just that someone was making fun of Sindhis, it was a bigger burn that a woman was doing it.

"Honestly, the rape and death threats were very disturbing and I'm actually leaving town for a while because my family is concerned about security. This is new for me and for them. When you step into the public eye, obviously not everyone is going to like you and I get that but this whole experience is alien for my family as well. I can't explain the suppression I'm feeling from all sides because at the end of the day, I'm a girl. When Ali Gul Pir got some criticism for Wadere Ka Beta, I'm sure he wasn't sent gang-rape threats."

I watched the video thrice and in my opinion, there was nothing mean-spirited about what she says. When I spoke to her a couple of days after she had already apologised, I could sense she was just trying to defuse the situation, even if she did feel bad about hurting people. She knew now was not the time to educate and she had to do a little damage control.

Sadly, this is just what happens when women behave in ways not "acceptable" to misogynists and nationalists alike; they're silenced. They go after our family, they go after our "character" and so, women step back because what can you do?

Is Pakistan even ready for stand-up comedy?

So what makes good comedy and acceptable comedy in today’s world? They do not have to be mutually exclusive. Again, this is my opinion, not a hard and fast rule as to how every comedian should perform.

"I tried to have a conversation with a lot of people who reached out to me in a civilised manner. People who were hurling abuses, there was no point in trying to have a discourse with them but the rest, I was trying to inform them that this is very common in the comedy community all around the world. My point being, if you want to talk about my content, let's talk but that's not what these trolls were interested in doing," Natalia explained.

I think it also boils down to the fact that stand-up is still fairly new in the country. Most comedians start off with performing for intimate crowds before booking out big venues if their career trajectory goes that way. With a small audience, you can prepare your material accordingly but with social media coming into play, these videos are now seen by everyone, everywhere and let's be honest, stand-up is not everyone's cup of tea. People who do and watch stand-up have to be able to laugh at themselves.

Natalia concurred: "The reason I don't get this kind of a response with a live audience is because educated people are spending their money to watch stand-up, they know how it works. Now people who come across this bit online, who don't even know that stand-up comedy exists in Pakistan or at all, obviously, their egos would be bruised by it so they resorted to circulating my pictures with crude remarks, attempting to slut-shame me, bullying me and my family."

"That being said, after the initial couple of days, there was a wave of support. Ali Gul Pir, Zarrar Khurro defended me, Fifi Haroon too, lots of people. The same way something triggered a negative trend, now all of a sudden, everyone was stepping up so I'm glad now it's getting a fair share of positivity also."

I'm no comedian but like Natalia, I put my work out into the universe, in front of an audience and then wait for feedback or criticism. That's taught me one thing for sure: someone will always find a way to be offended by your work. You just have to do what you do, the best way you can and let the chips fall where they may.

Not to mention, it'd be a shame if this were to encourage comedians to self-censor. Humour can be a great tool sometimes to bring taboo subjects out into the open so they can be discussed with honesty and again, we could really use that.

Come-on it was just a joke but to be honestit was sooo funny... We all enjoyed it

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Daanish

Aug 28, 2018 09:38am

have a heart to listen, what other people think about us..............better to enjoy rather then become one as comedy was made true............

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Yawar

Aug 28, 2018 09:41am

Not willing to laugh at ourselves shows how immature and insecure we are as a nation. Notwithstanding the arrogance that is rampant in many people of the Western world, the one thing that makes them way more superior to us is their ability to laugh at themselves.

She did a great job in comedy skit. She only highlighted the ills plaguing the Sindhi nation in particular. Nothing wrong with that.

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Imran Khan

Aug 28, 2018 09:50am

I really enjoyed her comedy though my maternal side is all Sindhi...

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sharjeel

Aug 28, 2018 09:52am

The lady has done amazing job. No nation can achieve par excellence unless they have people who are blunt in their self-criticism. We (Sindhis) need to come out of certain complexes.

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sharjeel

Aug 28, 2018 09:54am

Natalia, we are standing with you. You are a brave woman with excellent sense of humor.

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Imtiaz Ali Khan

Aug 28, 2018 09:56am

I'm a Sindhi my friends. I didn't get offended by her. Some of her jokes were funny, some not so funny, but all in all there are some truth in our jokes about us Sindhis. I'm sad that we not me at least vote for corrupt Zardari and his kids very shameful it will change Inshallah ( Zardari and kids have destroyed every social fabric of my Sindhu Dharti). About Bhangh jokes it was a bit carried away, I have never tried all this due to my family never thought it's good to do Bhangh. Now about clothing size it is true as far as the size goes, these jokes can be done on any group of people, we all have them. Lets laugh it and celebrate our differences. Stereotyping is possible for all of us in every group, but what I find brave of her she is Sindhi herself, when you can make fun of yourself it shows that you are brave and also can take a joke and accept all. Come friends don't take it at all heart.

Love you Sindhu Dharti Maa. Pakistan Zindabad!

IndoPakBangla Blood Brothers 4 Life!

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hyat

Aug 28, 2018 09:59am

come on guys, have big heart. sindhis are great people but some marginal quantity have issues.

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Karim

Aug 28, 2018 10:07am

Those who can't laugh at themselves will die smal.

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Opinion

Aug 28, 2018 10:17am

I appreciate Phastun & Sihks who take comedy with smile and bigger heart.

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Khuram

Aug 28, 2018 10:19am

You gave good examples of other artists from other countries so I assume that you know that even blacks are not allowed to use N-word during the standup. There is always a line that one must not cross.

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MAK

Aug 28, 2018 10:22am

Reminds the old maxim: 'if someone hurls an insult at you try to ignore it or laugh it away, if you get angry then you deserve it, our society is still primal, people like her is a sign that we are alive

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Huma.

Aug 28, 2018 10:30am

The author sums it up in the below lines -

"someone will always find a way to be offended by your work. You just have to do what you do the best way you can and let the chips fall where they may."

Enough said.

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Hussain

Aug 28, 2018 10:33am

People crack jokes on pathans but no body object.

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Dr Irshad Memon

Aug 28, 2018 10:40am

The situation is not very grim as portrayed by respected Natalia. Performing arts been facing such criticism in all societies since their advent. She should not give up like that.

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Rehan

Aug 28, 2018 10:44am

Our society has no SENSE OF HUMOUR and everything and everyone is too sensitive, cannot take a joke, but same time they can do Bashing on their own time.

humor #tolerancelevel #Pakistangrowup

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Ali

Aug 28, 2018 10:47am

I saw it and honestly she over acted. As for reaction from sindhis, problem is that other ethnicities don't get bashed to same degree even as comedy

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irtiza

Aug 28, 2018 10:55am

Those who dance are considered insane by those who cant hear the music ..
let the lady breath ...people should welcome some humor in their life rather bash people who are trying to make others smile and forget their problems even if its for a short while...

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Syed irfan ali

Aug 28, 2018 10:59am

Natalia's skit is superbly humorous. More power to Natalia.

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Ahmad

Aug 28, 2018 11:11am

Comedy is Comedy, Russel Peters Mock Indian Community All the time in his EVERY Stand up. Its Not Humiliation to find and point out Funny aspects of one's Culture NO? Whats the Fuss about? Calm the Fudge down.

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Agnostic

Aug 28, 2018 11:36am

There was nothing wrong in her skit. She is outstanding. A bright future lies ahead of her.

Go ahead, young lady. We all are with you.

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freedom of speech

Aug 28, 2018 11:37am

Same thing happened with many people. freedom of speech and comedy is one thing, insulting a community is another. you want to be funny try something creative instead just using this old tactic. Its possible that many people don't mind or don't care but this stuff shouldn't be allowed.

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Umer

Aug 28, 2018 11:48am

Feeling sad for the comedian who did excellent work and showed courage to laugh at herself .. this is wat we need as a nation we need to stop taking outselves so seriously ... in the larger scheme of things “me” doesn’t matter and it’s insignificant. What we need to learn to realize we are just here to contribute a small bit and that small bit will be better if we do take ourselves less seriously .. learn to laugh at urself people ..

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Ahmed

Aug 28, 2018 11:59am

@Daanish agreed

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SkinHead

Aug 28, 2018 12:00pm

First and the only rule of comedy is to make fun of everything, everywhere and at any time.

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Rowa

Aug 28, 2018 12:02pm

Fine if it offended you, fine if it amuses you. But absolutely no way is it okay to threat a person with death and rape threats. Shows what kind of disgusting people there are in the community.
کیوں کہ وہ ایک خاتون ہے اسلئے؟

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zebswati

Aug 28, 2018 12:06pm

@Opinion very right , big and open heart , makes you brave and mix with very cultures ! see all over the world you will find both of them living in very country of the world. !

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Edwardian

Aug 28, 2018 12:08pm

People make jokes about Pathans the most but they never give death threats in return though they are known to be the most furious when it comes to revenge. One has to have a big heart to take jokes. Also one must have confidence in one's own self.

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Saba

Aug 28, 2018 12:27pm

@Khuram Thats not true at all. In fact, it's only Black people who can and do use the n word when talking about themselves. Listen to Chris Rock or musicians like Kanye West and Jay Z who use it very frequently. That is the whole point. People who are part of the community are allowed to criticize or comment on its quirks for comedic/artistic effect, NOT others. Which should've been true for Ms. Natalia. What's sad is nobody was taking her lighthearted comedy as a serious reflection of our Sindhi community. People blew it completely out of proportion. All comedians exaggerate for laughs. Get a sense of humour people.

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Bari Abro

Aug 28, 2018 12:52pm

By the way Anwar Maqsood is Sindhi by all means, moreover, there is no nation as Mohajir, they are all Sindhis by letter and spirit.

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Syed Kaleemullah

Aug 28, 2018 01:03pm

Do comedy in better way instead of make joke on any culture.

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Sajjad Memon

Aug 28, 2018 01:09pm

I am a sindhi and I actually enjoyed it. it was a comedy show. I have experienced extreme jokes in New York Standup comedy shows and have seen target communities equally enjoy it.

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Peter Griffin

Aug 28, 2018 01:40pm

@Opinion .... True .... In most movies and comedies, Pukhtoon People are targeted in pretty much the same way as sikhs are stereotyped..... Most of the stage dramas do the same...... When someone makes fun of Sindhis, why this outcry?
In the words of Peter Griffin, " Come On"

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Rafay

Aug 28, 2018 01:53pm

I'm Sindhi but I loved her comedy routine. If a guy did this, not many people would object. Some guys are so insecure that they feel the need to keep a woman down.

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ustazi

Aug 28, 2018 02:10pm

Some of us are just trying to live upto the reputation. Her bashing by Sindhis cane easily be a subject of another stand-up comedy.

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RationalBabu

Aug 28, 2018 02:10pm

@SkinHead: Absolutely true, and that should include religion and beliefs as well. A lot of people will disagree, but satire and humour is what makes us human!

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Noman

Aug 28, 2018 02:41pm

Don't get upset with these trolls. Just look at the positive side, there are 100x more people who enjoyed your video and appreciate your sense of humor. Be brave girl and stay strong

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Neo

Aug 28, 2018 03:04pm

@Khuram. Most black comedians including famous black artists do use the N word as part of their stand up routine. However, if it was a white person doing the same then that would be controversial.

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Shahzaib

Aug 28, 2018 03:09pm

To be honest i had not seen it before but your article compelled me to search for it online, thus found it and loved it.

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Patriot

Aug 28, 2018 03:15pm

Tolerance and patience, its Naya Pakistan

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Pakistani1

Aug 28, 2018 03:15pm

Comedy can be funny and entertaining without ridiculing anyone. Many famous international standup comedians make fun of individuals in their families but avoid saying things about a wider race or language or nation. This needs to be learnt by Pakistani standup comedians specially when their work can be shared beyond the small audience they perform for.
This article refers to the recent work by Anwar Maqsood which was very biased against Sindhis. If he is a a fair person and meant it as comedy he should comment on Punjabis, Urdu speakers, Pathans and Balouchs etc in his comedy.

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RRS

Aug 28, 2018 03:17pm

As a society, we lack tolerance and of course humor. There is no harm in it. Half of the world's joke is on either pathan, sardar or memon. They never objected then why sindhi's. Enjoy saeen and leave her alone.

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El Sid

Aug 28, 2018 03:25pm

If you cant take a joke, Take a walk!

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AK

Aug 28, 2018 03:25pm

It was funny.Loved it.U r a good comedian.hats off

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Sibte Arif

Aug 28, 2018 03:28pm

We've grown listening jokes about Pathan's but Sindhi's can't take it. First Anwar Maqsood and now this girl. Sindhis should be able to understand the humor.

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Sibte Arif

Aug 28, 2018 03:29pm

@Yawar Not Nation, only Sindhis.

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abcdefg

Aug 28, 2018 04:24pm

@Ahmed yes good of you to be an "honestit."

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Zahid Hafeez

Aug 28, 2018 04:50pm

A person, a community, a nation or a race that cannot self criticize or laugh at it's peculiarities/idiosyncrasies is without confidence in itself. A good laugh at ones distinctiveness, cultural, racial or national, is a sign that we have matured.

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tatheer

Aug 28, 2018 04:51pm

I being a Sindhi I fully support Natalia Gul,have a sense of humor guys,she is a good comedian.

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Babu

Aug 28, 2018 04:51pm

Thumbs Up Ms. Natalia Gul Jilani. Pakistanis can not even laugh on jokes, shocking.

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Dr Mohsin Kazmi

Aug 28, 2018 05:06pm

I born and bread Nawabshah, Sindhi, like all other languages a beautiful language, is my second language.
I follow Ms Jilani. I would only say to my Sindhi brothers that they must learn some 'humor tolerance' that turns a nation into a great nation like English nation her humor tolerance is at its peak.

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Shahid

Aug 28, 2018 05:36pm

It takes long time to appreciate what comedy is all about: a subtle way of making realize an ingrained wrong and/or oddity with a host society/culture. 'khhappe' in Sindhi is not the same as it is understood to mean in Punjabi, for example. Those who venture out to do it is at their own risk, especially on sensitive cultural points of societies with grossly split make up on ethnic lines. It reminds one of the greatest 'awakener' in Malcolm X and his powerful by funny sounding sound bites. It is also important to know if ones own society is ready for 'copy catting ' this model of stand up comedy routine and popular elsewhere.

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Bilal Khan

Aug 28, 2018 06:08pm

Congratulations on leaving social media!

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Jamil Soomro, New York City

Aug 28, 2018 07:40pm

This is not comedy this is insulting the Sindhis of Sindh Province. Try making fun of a Pakhtun and see the
reaction?

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Afzal Bhurgari

Aug 28, 2018 07:59pm

Sad, sad. sad. Pathetic. People who cannot laugh loudest at themselves are feeble-minded, intolerant, bigots. Natalia, don't let this pull you down. Your act is (was?) hilarious and such a breath of freshess in today's environment where tolerance and humour (acceptable if it targets someone else) have gone on leave. Keep your chin up, I pray you, and for strength lean on your remarkable ability to give people one of the greatest gifts possible - good-humoured, good natured, LAUGHTER.....

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Irfan Mirani

Aug 28, 2018 08:02pm

I was watching Sindhi Encyclopedia video; while I was enjoying the video in the start I was hoping that she will finish it with positively funny notes to balance the act. As the video ended, the natural feeling that came (honestly) was that the video is not worth a share from me at least. I simply ignored it.

Although, we all know she didn’t mean to insult her Sindhi fellows; she couldn’t either do justice to her act. She could have received much more appraise from the same group criticizing her comedy if she had titled her video as “Wadera Encyclopedia” or something like that because not all Sindhis could relate (and digested) themselves to what she said in her act. If not all most of the points were related to the Sindhi waderas, and as she belongs to the same class as well; she portrayed well. Overall, her act was good except for the title!

Having said that, the death & rape threats are more condemnable than their condemnation of her act. Sindhis cannot be extremists!

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AZAM AKBAR

Aug 28, 2018 08:33pm

@Opinion

Mr. Opinion,

There are comedies or jokes on Punjabis,

Biharis. Hyderabadis (Deccan), Sikhs, Parsis,

Pashtoons, Baloches, Bengalis, Mohajirs,

Dehliwalas, etc., and these ethnicities never

became and become offended.

Life example is Loose Talk of Moin Akhtar

(Marhum) and Anwar Maqsood.

But some Sindhis, not all, against this lady.

These some Sindhis should understand

comedy and humour.

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AZAM AKBAR

Aug 28, 2018 08:34pm

@Sibte Arif

Mr. Sibte Arif,

Correct.

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AZAM AKBAR

Aug 28, 2018 08:40pm

@Babu

Mr. Babu,

Not all.

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AZAM AKBAR

Aug 28, 2018 08:43pm

@Sajjad Memon

Mr. Sajjad Memon,

But some Sindhis in Pakistan feel offended.

It seems they can't understand comedy, jokes

and humour, unfortunately.

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AZAM AKBAR

Aug 28, 2018 08:46pm

@sharjeel

Mr. sharjeel,

Congratulations.

You comment is related to truth or reality.

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Munawar Shaikh

Aug 28, 2018 10:03pm

I think the main reason things flared up to this extent was due to a single phrase, "hairy and honey." She should have known better not to touch the taboo subject of sexuality publicly in Pakistan. It is sad because her skit was really funny even without that phrase. It did not contribute anything to the main theme of her satire. It appears that she inserted it gratuitously thinking everything coming from the west is classy and good regardless of whether it is compatible with our religious and societal norms. Of course, being a woman aggravated the situation in this context.

However, despite the notion given by this article, I think women enjoy more respect and attract more accolades for braking the barriers in every industry, including comedy, in Pakistan than in the west. Her act would have been appreciated instead of receiving such sharp criticism had she not violated the cultural and societal rule of staying away from anything remotely resembling sexuality.

My 2 cents!

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Faisal R.

Aug 28, 2018 10:41pm

She should add to her skit of Sindhi Encyclopedia the backlash of Sindhi Community on Sindhi Comedian for doing funny but realistic mimicry of her own people.

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BK

Aug 29, 2018 12:50am

I watched the video and being a Gujrati have seen other videos about Gujratis. I know that the video can hurt someone's feeling but there are ways to show your disapproval. She apologized and that should be end of it. Death threats and gaaliya are not proper way to show your anger.
We Muslims should be more hurt when we are called terrorists and blamed for crimes of few but we sit silent and accept as either 'freedom of speech' or "there is nothing we can do about it" attitude.
What if same video was done by a late night comedian about Sindhis, would we all react same way?

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nasr

Aug 29, 2018 04:22am

If we the Sindhis feel so much pride in being Sindhis then why we do not clean up corruption, why we do not give a good place to the downtrodden among us, why the poor Haaris are still slave to their landlords and Vaderas, Why the poor or the haaris still have to bowe their vaderas.

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reality bites

Aug 29, 2018 05:24am

Do we lack sense of humor?
I think we severely do.
Or again, education or lack of it plays a huge role.

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N abidai

Aug 29, 2018 06:06am

The outraged brigade,she is telling jokes,but what ppp did to Sind , that is what requires outrage, no schools, health,clean water,and children dying at birth! 9 out of 10 Sindhi are hepatitis a,b,c carrier ! No work being done,! This is what the outraged brigade is upset about!

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Must learn

Aug 29, 2018 06:36am

Totally obnoxious and vicious, she has crossed the border of decency, sorry no family can appreciate this kind of joke. It’s OK she apologized, but must be decent in future jokes.

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Kaloi

Aug 29, 2018 06:49am

She should not have directed her humor to whole community, rather she should have presented some Sindhi characters in funny way, that would have been better for her and for Sindhi community as whole. Just like we say "ek pathan" or "ek sardar", she should have said "ek Sindhi".

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Speak_truth

Aug 29, 2018 08:03am

Is Pakistan even ready for stand-up comedy ?
Not if it involves vulgarity, obscenity and profanity like in the West, and will never be.
And rightly so.
That said, we already saw classy stand-up comdey from the likes of Moin Akhtar, so don't patronize Pakistanis.

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Fahad

Aug 29, 2018 09:27am

Great job Natalia! Unfortunately the tolerant and progressive Sindhis had left our country right after partition.. you have no choice but to deal with this...

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Shazia Ameer Shaikh

Aug 30, 2018 12:55pm

Being Sindhi, I enjoy her comedy.
Some hard minded people made cry out of nothing.
These are the people who perhaps donot respect culture of other nations

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W Memon

Aug 30, 2018 04:11pm

That was pure insult, not comedy. She is mentioning that Sindhi either want to be politicians or try to pass CSS. They are obviously very lazy , so never pass CSS and after failing that open a dhaba. That Sindhi are always horny. I don't see any humor in that.

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Manzoor Ahmed

Aug 30, 2018 04:36pm

Its disgraceful the way Natalia Gul Jilani is being treated against her skit which she performed. Simple thing is if you didn't like it move on. Russel Peter and Indian Canadian bashes nearly everyone including his ancestral country India. George Carlin really tightened the screws against life in America. So people who threatening this star should be put behind bars.

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M Wasim Kureshi

Aug 30, 2018 07:23pm

What a drama going on, Guys this a funny stunt, No body from outside the Sindhi nation would think about Sindhis that was performed in this stand up comedy clip. Do people even understand the meaning of jokes. How beautiful the women of Sindh and how smart the men of Sindh. How beautiful and loving the Sindhi culture. Do you handful of Sindhis thought that this clip will change the true known Sindhi culture and heritage. For those hanful of Sindhis, stop being insecure. There have been standup comedy shows on Urduspeaking, on Punjabis and on Pathans. Baluchis have not been there but they will not have given such a response of life threats and gang rapes, (they would have done it) Again this is a joke. Keep the peace all my friends.

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Sailani

Aug 30, 2018 11:19pm

Ethnic jokes have been around for a long time. It is great that someone looks at his/her own ethnicity and make people laugh. All of us have made jokes of the Memons, Punjabis, Sindhis, Mohajirs etc. so people get off you high horse about Sindhis,

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Ali

Aug 31, 2018 08:24am

Didn't find it offensive. These are stereotypes which from Europe to Americas and Africa to Australia are taken lightly of each other. Don't be pretentious, we all have seen such Sindhis and for the fact Pathans, Sikhs, Punjabis, Balochis and Makrani stereotype people.

I have time and again found one or other thing common in Sindhis which she described. Get a life people. You can't terrorise people in 21st century for making fun of what is true in one form or another in most of your people. Your denial of somethings which should really be given a second thought is getting you blackmailed by the Bhutto Dynasty.

As a Punjabi I don't find punjabi stereotypes offensive. We make fun of each other, the different accents, the pahalwans, the dahi kay koonday and Desi Beer (Lassi) and s88t food. And don't forget that it is these Punjabis who have brought down Ganjaas from their throne, not only that but have passionately negated the Gujjar culture of Lollywood version of politics.

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Ali

Aug 31, 2018 08:27am

@Khuram really? I have seen hundreds of instances where I have seen blacks saying the 'n' word and not only n word but also a lot of other things which you can't write here.

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Sayyed Shuaib Yazdani

Aug 31, 2018 03:19pm

I guess we are heading towards a lesser life-form than human. So much lack of confidence in a society; such little tolerance for humour. Then we have the audacity to laugh at humour that targets others. Despicable and hypocritical.

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Wafa Mansoor

Sep 01, 2018 02:29am

A kind suggestion: please dig deep objectively into while a community feels so sensitive and alarmed to feel that way as to react almost unanimously in rage. Secondly, Natalia should have known the dynamics of Sindhi society and as a comedian, she should have done better in choosing the words. If she says it was her experience and her brother's then she should have targeted herself or just the feudal class of Sindhis. She did present offensive, overly-stereotypical picture of a community. Death threats, and abusive language is condemned. Criticising is protesting are everyone's right, albeit they should be done within the domain of respect and morality. Get going Natalia, a career awaits you. Just be more careful. :)

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Adnan

Sep 04, 2018 05:05pm

Natalia, you have done a great job ! The way you pictured the Sindhi culture was outstanding.

I request all Sindhis to please calm down, don't take it on your heart and respect Natalia.